Country Profile - Eritrea
Population: 5 million
Capital: Asmara
Government: Transitional
Religion: Muslim 49.2%; Christian 47.3%; Non-religious 2.8%; Other 0.7%
History
A former Italian colony, Eritrea was occupied by the British until 1941.
In 1952, the United Nations made it an autonomous entity federated with Ethiopia. This was a compromise deal between Ethiopia’s claims for sovereignty and Eritrean claims for independence.
But, when Ethiopia annexed Eritrea as a province within its boundaries ten years later, a struggle for independence began.
Eritrea did not emerge from its long push for full autonomy until 1993, only to be plunged into conflict once again, first with Yemen, and then once more with Ethiopia. An uneasy peace has held since an accord was signed with Ethiopia in 2000.
Eritrea also has serious problems in feeding its population, which are linked to severe bad weather and poor soil.
Religious context
Until 2002, there was religious freedom in Eritrea.
Then the Government announced it would recognise only four religious communities: the Orthodox Church of Eritrea, Sunni Islam, the Roman Catholic Church and the Lutheran-affiliated Evangelical Church of Eritrea.
All other churches were closed. Since 2002, it has banned any religious organisation from taking part in politics.
The religious climate has changed substantially in recent years.
The authorities run a campaign of open persecution against Christians: more than 2,000 of them are said to be in jail currently, including several pastors.
Many are imprisoned indefinitely and without trial. Conditions are often inhumane and many inmates suffer ill-treatment, sometimes torture. For some, the only hope of being released is to sign documents declaring they will no longer practise their faith.
In 2003, the Eritrean Government declared that 'no groups or persons are persecuted in Eritrea for their beliefs or religion'.
Nonetheless, a year later, the United States named Eritrea as a 'Country of Particular Concern', ranking it among those where the worst violation of religious rights occurs.
Persecution
In January 2010, Hana Hagos Asgedom died at the Alla Military Camp near Dekemhare town, shortly after she was beaten with an iron rod for refusing to make the prison chief a coffee.
At the time, she was the eleventh Christian known to have died in custody in Eritrea since October 2006. It is feared many more such deaths may have gone undocumented.
Raids on Christian services, even wedding ceremonies, are frequent and mass detentions are common. Even children are not exempt. A group of Christians arrested in Asmara in May 2010 included four children.
The head of the Eritrean Orthodox Church, Patriarch Abune Antonios, has been under strict house arrest since January 2006, apparently to allow the Government to impose a replacement of its choosing.
Tens of thousands of Eritreans now live as refugees in Ethiopia, Kenya, Sudan and Uganda.
Release projects
Release's work for Eritrean Christians includes:
- Practical support for Christian refugees who have fled persecution and escaped to Ethiopia. This includes helping them set up businesses
- Support for families of prisoners
Sources: BBC; International Christian Concern; Operation World; Release International; The Voice of the Martyrs Canada; The World Factbook 2010; World Christian Database
Updated January 2011
News Stories
| Date | Subject | ||
| 28-07-2011 | Eritrea: Mass arrests of Christians continue | ||
| 24-05-2011 | Eritrea: Prayer vigil for Christians as arrests continue | ||
| 23-05-2011 | Prayer vigil for Christian freedom in Eritrea | ||
| 22-03-2011 | Help former prisoner of faith Helen Berhane visit the UK |